Packing ring



Nov. 12, 1935. P. M. GILMQR PACKING RING Filed Nov. 18, 1935 m H W HIIII ll lllll HII l'l I l.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PACKING RING Percy M. Gilinei', Roanoke, Va., assignor to Gilmer Packing Ring Corporation, Roanoke, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application November 18, 1933, Serial No. 698,700

6 Claims.

The invention relates to packing rings for the pistons of engines, pumps, compressors, and also for reciprocating valves of certain types.

The principal object of the invention, generally stated, is to provide a packing which will be thoroughly sealed at all times and consequently leak-proof even after prolonged use.

An important object of the invention is to provide a piston or valve packing which is purely metallic and which embodies sectional rings so constructed, arranged and related as to preclude the accumulation of carbon or other deposits between the sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packing ring structure including or embodying spring means which will cooperate with the sections of the ring structure not only for urging them into expanded or extended position but which will also force the ring sections into close sealing engagement, one of the spring means additionally cooperating with a side wall of the ring receiving groove and assisting in the sealing action.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a piston or valve packing embodying superposed or contacting ring members each of which is formed of a series or plurality of sections, the sections of one being staggered with respect to those of the other, the entire assembly moreover including separate expansible spring members engaging the respective ring members and cooperating therewith for urging them into expanded position, one spring member additionally coacting with or reacting against one wall of the ring receiving groove and the adjacent ring member for forcing the two ring members together and for additionally performing a sealing action itself.

Another object is to provide a packing ring structure of this character having means en gaging the two ring members for the purpose of preventing relative rotation thereof so that the joints between the segments of the ring members will never come into alinement, danger of pressure leakage from this source being thereby entirely avoided.

A still further object is to provide a packing ring structure or assembly of this character in which wear is automatically compensated for owing to the peculiar formation and relation of the parts.

An additional object is to providea packing means of this character which will besimple and inexpensive to make, easy toinstall, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art,

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through a piston equipped with, packing rings constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the ring assembly alone,

Figure 3 is an edge elevation thereof,

Figure 4 is a detail cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the springs. Referring more particularly to the drawing it will be observed that in Figure 1 I have illustrated a portion of a piston IEI which might be a valve or the piston of any sort of steam or other engine, pump, compressor or the like. However, in the present instance this isintended to be a locomotive piston though it will be appreciated that there is no limitation in this respect. It is for this reason that there is no necessity for describing any particular details of the construction of the piston itself, it being sufiicient to state, merely, that it is formed with peripheral grooves H, as is customary, for the reception of the packing means which constitutes the subject matter of the present application.

In accordance with my invention, I provide within each of the grooves II a ring assembly including ring members indicated as a whole by the numerals l2 and I3 arranged in face to face contacting or superposed relation and each formed of segments |2 and 13 as indicated in Figure 2, the segments of one ring member being staggered with respect to those of the other so that the joints between the abutting ends of the segments of the respective ring members willv be out of registration or alinement. To prevent relative rotation of the ring members l2 and i3 the simple expedient may be resorted to of providing a pin l4 passing through the ringmembers 5 as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 and as also shown in Figure 2.

The ring member I2 is represented as of plain rectangular shape in cross section whereas the ring member I3 is of angular shape in cross section and of greater width than the ring member I2 inthat it is formed with an inwardly extending portion l5 located within the confines of the ring member l2 and formed witha shoulder it abutting against the inner periphery thereof. At

*on the ring member i2.

its side remote from the ring member I2 the ring 7 member I3 has its inner edge beveled off or 111- clinedas at IT. both ring members I2 and I3 to have their outer Of course, the intention is for the piston at the bottom of eachgroove I! so that the inner periphery of the extension IE will be spaced from the bottom of the groove as very clearly indicated inFigure 1. It is also intended that thecombined thicknessof the ring members i2 and I3 be less than the width of the groove I i so that there will be sufficient freedom of play of the entire ring assembly within its groove to avoid any possibility of binding under any circumstances.

Located within each groove I I within the confinesof the ring member I2 and reactingagainst the'inner periphery of the'latter is an expan'sible split ring I9 which under some circumstances may engage against the face of the extension I5 of the ring member I3. Located'within the con fines of the ring member I3 is a similar expansible split ring 26 so arranged as to react against the adjacent side Wall of the groove I! and against the inclined or beveled surface ll of the ring member I3. r

The mode of assembling the various parts of the assembly should be readily apparent from an inspection of the drawing without further explanation; it being self-evident that the segments of each ring member are arranged in end to end abutting relation and that the ring member I2 lies flatly against the adjacent face of the ring member I3. It is preferable that the assembly in one groove be reversed with respect to that in the other as the packing means is muchmore efiicient when the piston is travelling in one direction rather than in the other direction. By providing two grooves Ii and the two packing ring assemblies therein adequate-packing oithe piston will be assured at all times regardless of the direction of movement. The spring I9 exerts an expansive or outwardly moving tendency Moreover the spring l9 bears alternately against the sideface of the projecting portion i5 and the adjacent wall of the groove, there being a clearance betweenthis spring i9 and the adjacent wall of the groove 7 when the ring I 2 abuts closely against this same side wall of the groove, and the spring I9 abute ting the wall of the groove when clearance occurs between the ring I2 andthe same wall of the groove. It will be observed that as the spring 28 bears against the adjacent wall of the groove and has its outer edgereacting against the beveled surface I! of the spring-member It this spring 20 exerts outward pressure against the ring member I3 and holds'the fiat face thereof in close contact with the adjacent flat face of the ring member I2, and in addition holds the shoulderl It in firm engagement with the inner periphcry of the ring member 52. As-the ring members I2 and I3 thus have their fiat faces-urged closely together it is apparent that there is no opportunity for carbon or other matter to form or accumulate between the ring members, there by'insuring a close fit with the resultant advan tage of prevention of leakage. In addition to the spring, 20 forcingthe ring member I3 in close contact with 'the face and inner 'periphery of the ring member I2 it also forces the ring member I72 against thewall of thegroove thereby making it impossible for the ring assembly to slap notwithstanding the fact that the combined thickness of the ring members I2 and I3 is less than the width of the groove II. This provides 7 a material advantage over ordinary construe 5 tions wherein it is a difiicult matter to effect such accurate machining of the groove wallsas to preclude ring slaps. The existence of clearance between the assembled rings and the respective Walls of the groove in alternation,"together with 10 the occurrence of clearance between the spring I9 and the confronting face of the projecting portion I5 of the ring I3 is avery important consideration in this construction on account of the matter ofllubrication. From actual tests it 15 t has been found'that'there is a remarkably slight amount of wear in this ring assembly, probably due to the fact that the oil isentrapped in the V clearance which occurs at alternate sides of the ring assembly during opposite piston strokes and, 20 when the clearance'is taken up on th'e-reverse stroke, isforced out onto the outer surfaces of the rings where they contact the cylinder wall. Attention is invited to the fact that even when the clearance occurs between the ring assembly 25 7 and the walls of the grooves sealing is never: theless effected by the springs I9 and 20 so that under no circumstances can there be leakage of oil or compression into or through the groove inwardly of the assembled rings. the segments of the rings I2 and IBbecome worn and spaces develop between their'abutting ends as they move outwardly in accordance with wear 'on their outer peripheries there can still be 'no leakage not only as the segments of the rings I2 35 and I3 are staggered but for the further reason that the springs I9 and 20 always provide a seal against passage of oil or'fiuid pressure through the groove. 1 7 7 As mentioned above, it'will beobserved that 40 the assembly in one groove'is'reversed' with respect to that in the other, the purpose being to insure thorough sealing regardless of the direction of movement of the piston; the' intention being that the parts be so related that the beveled edge of the ring member I3 will 'bethe leading edge, or in other words toward'thepres sure side. Owing to the difference between the combined thickness of the ring members I2 and i3 and the width of the groove Ii. within which 50'- they are located it'is apparent that there will be acertain amount of clearanceZI between the ring member I3 and the adjacent wall ,of the groove but this is no disadvantage as this is sealed in two ways: first, by the spring 20, and 5- V 7 second, by the spring I9 by virtue of contact thereof with the inner periphery of the ring member'I2 and the side wall of the groove, as particularly well illustrated at the top portion' of Figure 1. Moreover as the ring members I2 60 and I3 wear, resulting in increase of the slight V gaps between the'abutting ends of these'gments thereof there can be n'o'leakage owing to the action of the springs combined with the engagement of the shoulder IS with the inner periphery Z of the ring member I2; It should alsobementioned that carbon cannot accumulate on the. side walls of the grooves as the movement of the ring assemblies will preclude such, and it is repeated that carbon cannot enter between the thus provided a' -very simply constructed and in- 75.

Even though 30 t k ring members and cause separationthereof with I expensive packing ring assembly for use in pistons, valves and the like involved in or forming part of machinery of different kinds. Adequate provision has been made for effectually sealing the piston so as to prevent any leakage of pressure past it and the contingency of wear has been foreseen and automatically provided for. It is thought from the foregoing that the construction, operation and advantages should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A packing assembly for a cylindrical member having a peripheral groove, comprising a pair of ring members located in face to face contacting relation and located within the groove, one ring member having a projecting portion engaging against the inner periphery of the other ring member and terminating short of the far lateral face thereof and further having one inner edge beveled, an expansible spring located within the groove and reacting against one wall thereof and against said beveled edge, and a second spring member within the groove seated between said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove and bearing against the inner periphery of said other ring member.

2. A packing assembly for disposition within a peripheral groove in a cylindrical member, comprising a pair of contacting ring members located within the groove, one ring member having a projecting portion located within the confines of and bearing against the inner periphery of the other ring member and having one inner edge beveled off, an expansible split spring ring located within the groove and bearing against one side wall thereof and against said beveled edge, and a second expansible split ring located and movable axially within the groove between the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove and bearing outwardly against the inner periphery of said other spring member.

3. A packing assembly for disposition within a peripheral groove in a cylindrical member, comprising a pair of contacting ring members located within the groove, one ring member having a projecting portion located within the confines of and bearing'against the inner periphery of the other ring member and terminating short of the far face thereof and having one inner edge beveled off, an expansible split spring ring located within the groove and bearing against one side wall thereof and against said beveled edge, and a second expansible split ring located within and having a thickness less than the width of the groove between the face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the first mentioned groove and bearing outwardly against the inner periphery of said other spring member, and means parallel with the axis of the rings securing them against relative rotation.

4. A packing assembly for disposition within a peripheral groove in a cylindrical member adapted for operation within a cylinder, comprising a pair of superposed ring members arranged in contacting face to face relation, one ring member having an annular longitudinally projecting portion engaged against the inner periphery of the other ring member and having one inner edge beveled off, the combined thickness of both ring members being less than the width of the groove to define clearance, an expansible split spring ring located within the groove and bearing against one side wall thereof and against said beveled edge and constituting sealing means for said clearance, and a second expansible split 5 spring ring located within and of less thickness than the width of the groove between the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the first mentioned groove and bearing outwardly against the inner periphery of said 0 other ring member, said second named spring being of less thickness than the space between the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove.

5. A packing assembly for disposition within a peripheral groove in a cylindrical member adapted for operation within a cylinder, comprising a pair of superposed ring members arranged in contacting face to face relation, one ring member having an annular longitudinally projecting portion engaged against the inner periphery of the other ring member and having one inner edge beveled off, the combined thickness of both ring members being less than the width of the groove to define clearance, an expansible split spring ring located within the groove and bearing against one side wall thereof and against said beveled edge and constituting sealing means for said clearance, and a second expansible split spring ring located within and of less thickness than the width of the groove between the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove and bearing outwardly against the inner periphery of said other ring member, said ring members abutting alternately against the sides of said groove and the second named spring bearing alternately against the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove when the cylindrical member is moved in opposite directions Within a cylinder.

6. A packing assembly for disposition within a peripheral groove in a cylindrical member adapted for operation within a cylinder, comprising a pair ofsuperposed ring members arranged in contacting face to face relation, one ring member having an annular longitudinally projecting portion engaged against the inner periphery of the other ring member and having one inner edge beveled off, the combined thickness of 5 both ring members being less than the width of the groove to define clearance, an expansible split spring ring located within the groove and bearing against one side wall thereof and against said beveled edge and constituting sealing means for said clearance, a second expansible split spring ring located within and of less thickness than the width of the groove between the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove and bearing outwardly 50 against the inner periphery of said other ring member, said ring members abutting alternately against the sides of said groove and the second named spring bearing alternately against the lateral face of said projecting portion and the adjacent side wall of the groove when the cylindrical member is moved in opposite directions within a cylinder, and said first named spring bearing always against the adjacent side wall of the groove.

PERCY M. GILMER. 

